Apparatus for removing and replacing wheels



March 1, 1949. J. A. POLIVKA ET'AL.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING WHEELS Filed Jan. 12, 1946 Patented Mar. 1, 1949 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND REPLACING WHEELS John A. Polivka, La Grange, and James R. Searles, Downers Grove, Ill.

Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,929

3 Claims.

This invention is concerned with a simple, yet effective, apparatus for use in removing and replacing the wheels of heavy vehicles, such as trucks, busses, etc. Whenever it becomes necessary to take off or put back such a wheel (or wheels if they be of the twin-type) the task is very onerous. This is so largely because of the weight factor which is involved, the weight of a twin-type of wheel often amounting to 400 pounds or more.

To facilitate this operation we have devised the present apparatus which comprises a cradle mounted for horizontal mo'vement on a supporting base in response to rotation of an operating screw, the base itself being readily movable to and from its operating position and having means whereby to secure it frictionally in such position. With a view to the accomplishment of these ends by an apparatus which is sturdy, inexpensive, and easily operated, we have shown in Figure 1, a top plan view;

Fig. 2, a central vertical section along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a front elevation of a suggestive construction which embodies our invention concerning which the following description is given:

To a base B is secured a cradle C which ismounted for horizontal movement. The base comprises spaced vertical walls 5 extending from front to rear; from the top of each of these walls, in the forward region, a ramp 6 slopes downwardly to a point of engagement with the floor or pavement whereon the base is rested; feet 7 are provided close to the front and rear of the base, adjusting screws 8 being extended vertically through the feet in threaded engagement therewith and provided, if desired, with frictional treads 9; a downwardly bowed arcuate top wall In is extended between the vertical walls 5 from the tops thereof for substantially their entire length, there being a center slot H extending therethrough for the major distance; and a pair of spaced channels 12 is formed in the arcuate wall, extending for the length thereof. There is also a front wall l3, perhaps also intermediate walls l4, and a rear wall l5, from which are extended certain brackets 16 furnishing mountings for two Or more caster wheels l1. Such is a suggestive construction of the supporting base B which we have ascertained to be satisfactory and suitable for the purposes of our invention.

The cradle C is produced with a bottom wall 20 transversely arcuate in conformity with the bowed. base wall I 0 whereon it is slidingly mounted; depending from the cradle bottom are ribs 2| entering into and coacting with the channels 12 whereby to guide the cradle in its sliding movements, forwardly and rearwardly, upon the base; upstanding from the cradle adjacent its front and rear are flanges 22 conformed in contour with the curvature of its bottom wall 20, and, for use with twin-type wheels, a center flange 23 as well; and depending from the cradle bottom through the center slot H is a boss 24 having therethrough a threaded passageway 25 extending parallel with the slot II and therebelow. A cradle answering generally to this description will meet all the requirements of our invention.

Through the base front wall I3 is an opening wherein it fitted a bearing 30 for journaling a shaft 3| which carries a pair of thrust collars 32, one adjacent each end of the bearing; this shaft which extends through the boss passageway 25 is formed with screw threads 33 in engagement therewith; the rear end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 34 supported by the base rear wall 15; and affixed to the front end of the shaft is an operating hand wheel 35 fitted, if desired, with a knob or handle 36 adjacent its periphery. The screw shaft and its associated parts provide a convenient and effective operating mechanism whereby to shift the cradle lengthwise, i. e. from front to rear, and vice versa, of the base.

To remove a wheel or bearing (depending upon how the vehicle is constructed) a suitable jack or hoist is first placed under the vehicle axle adjacent the wheel (or wheels) which is then lowered to rest within the cradle C. When freed from the vehicle, the wheel may be run down the ramp onto the fioor. A reversal of these steps is practiced when the wheel is to be replaced. The term wheel as used throughout refers to the single-type or to the twin-type of vehicle wheel, or to the bearings therefor, according to what may be the construction in each case.

If but one wheel is to be removed, the tire tread will enter within one of the seats defined (in whole or in part) by adjacent flanges 22, whereas if twin-type wheels are rested within the cradle, the second tire will be accommodated within the other of the two cradle seats. When the locking devices which hold the wheel in place relative to the axle are released, the wheel is free to be removed by an axial movement which, with the present apparatus, is transmitted thereto through rotation of the screw-shaft 3| with the aid of the hand wheel 35. In this operation the cradle is shifted endwise upon the base from a rearward position (as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) to a forward position where the wheel is clear of the vehicle and ready to be rolled off of the cradle and down one of the inclined ramps 6 of the base.

In moving the apparatus from one position to another upon the floor or pavement, the front end is lifted slightly-enough to depress the caster wheels I! into engagement therewith. In this operation the position of the cradle remains fixed due to its securement to the base by the screwshaft. The wheel support provided by the casters will facilitate movements of the base and cradle into and out of operative position. In any such position, the base may be frictionally anchored by advancing one or more of the gripping treads at the base of the adjusting screws 8. Such an anchorage will hold the base securely against movement whenever the screw-shaft is operated to shift the cradle, together with the vehicle wheels seated therein, either outwardly or rearwardly, for removal or replacement of the wheels relative to their associated axles.

It is manifest that our wheel-shifting apparatus does away with the heavy labor involved in the handling of large vehicle wheels by the usual methods. This apparatus herein disclosed is both sturdy and effective for the intended purpose. desirable in stations and shops where servicing of trucks, busses, etc., is performed more or less regularly, its, usefulness can be and has been amply demonstrated.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for axially shifting vehicle wheels, comprising a base composed of an arcuate top wall extending the entire length of the base and provided in its upper face with laterally As a piece of equipment advantageous and spaced longitudinal channels and having a central longitudinal slot terminating short of the frontv and rear ends of the top wall, vertical side walls connected with and supporting the rear portion of the top wall, laterally extending sloping ramps located at opposite sides of the base at the front portion thereof and having tapered front and rear end walls connected with the top wall of the base, and front and rear transverse walls connected with and supporting the ends of the top wall, the front transverse wall forming a continuation of the front end walls of the ramps, a cradle having an arcuate bottom wall arranged upon and fitting the arcuate top wall of the base and provided at its lower face with longitudinal ribs slidable in the channels of the base, and vertical transverse flanges extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the cradle and curved to conform to the configuration of the same and arranged to retain a wheel on the cradle, and operating mechanism extending through the slot of the base and connected with the base and the cradle for sliding the cradle outwardly and inwardly on the base.

2. An apparatus for axially shifting vehicle wheels, comprising a base composed of an arcuate top wall extending the entire length of the base and provided in its upper face with laterally spaced longitudinal channels and having a central longitudinal slot terminating short of the front and rear ends of the top wall, vertical side walls connected with and supporting the rear portion of the top wall, laterally extending sloping ramps located at opposite sides of the base at the front portion thereof and having tapered front and rear end walls connected with the top wall of the base, and front and rear transverse walls connected with and supporting the ends of the top wall, the front transverse wall forming a continuation of the front end walls of the ramps, a cradle having an arcuate bottom wall arranged upon and fitting the top wall of the base and provided at its lower face with longitudinal ribs and a depending lug slidable respectively in the channels and slot of the top wall of the base, said cradle being also provided with vertical transverse flanges curved to conform to the configuration of the bottom wall of the cradle and arranged to retain a wheel on the cradle, and a screw shaft journaled in the base and having a threaded connection with the lug of the cradle for sliding the cradle outwardly and inwardly on the base.

3. An apparatus for axially shifting vehicle wheels, comprising a base composed of an arcuate top wall extending the entire length of the base and provided with a central longitudinal slot terminating short of the front and rear ends of the top wall, vertical side walls connected with and supporting the rear portion of the top wall, laterally extending sloping ramps located at opposite sides of the base at the front portion thereof and having tapered front and rear end walls connected with the top wall of the base, and front and rear transverse walls connected with and supporting the ends of the top wall, the

front transverse wall forming a continuation of the front end walls of the ramps, a cradle having an arcuate bottom wall arranged upon and fitting the top wall of the base and provided at its lower face with a depending lug, slidable in the slot of the top wall of the base, said cradle being also provided with vertical transverse flanges curved to conform to the configuration of the bottom wall of the base and arranged to retain a wheel on the cradle, a screw shaft journaled in the base and having a threaded connection with the lug of the cradle for sliding the cradle outwardly and inwardly on the base, and means guiding the cradle on the base extending from one part for sliding engagement with the other.

JOHN R. POLIVKA.

JAMES R. SEARLES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 329,781 Smith Nov. 3, 1885 895,401 Hamilton et a1 Aug. 4, 1908 947,318 Wunder Jan. 25, 1910 956,507 Adams May 3, 1910 1,139,636 Calhoun May 18, 1915 1,498,646 Dahl et al June 24, 1924 1,535,762 Brejska Apr. 28, 1925 1,573,840 Lyday Feb. 23, 1926 2,033,119 Bennett Mar. 10, 1936 2,365,771 Olson Dec. 26, 1944 2,396,645 Dolce Mar. 19, 1946 

